Improvement in railway snow-plows



S. W.HEMENWAY.

Railway Snow-Flows.

Patented Dec24,1872.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL W. HEMENWAY, OF LANSING, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILWAY SNOW-FLOWS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,202, dated December 24, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. HEMENWAY, of Lansing, in the county of Allamakee and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Snow-Plow, of which the following is a specification:

My invention consists of fan-blowers with suction and discharge-pipes, combined with the scraper-sides, having holes to allow the snow to be conducted into the suction-pipes, to be taken up by the air-blasts and discharged over the side of the way, all in such manner that the snow may be taken from the front and discharged over the bank at the side.

Figure l is a front elevation of my improved snow-plow, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line a: a: of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The plates or mold-boards A of the plow or scraper have a series of large holes, 13, through them opening into suction-tubes G of fanblowers D, on the platform behind, having connection with a vertical discharge-pipe, E, with an eblow or curved section at the top, adjusted to discharge the snow over the side of the way, the said fans drawing the snow from the passage B through the suction-pipes and forcing it out through the dischargepipe. The suction-pipes will have two or more.

branches to receive the snow falling through all the holes, but only one discharge-pipe will be necessary, though more may be used, if preferred. By preference, two fans will be used, though one will suffice, or more may be I used if desired; they will be driven by an engine on the platform, specially provided for the purpose, or by any approved means. The discharge-pipe will have a vertically adjustable section, I, to be worked by a handwheel, J, pinion, K, and rack, L, or any suitable contrivance for shifting it as may be required by the height of the bank over which the snow is to be discharged. It also has a revolving section, M, to shift the nozzle from side to side, as may be required by the direction of the wind, of which advantage may be taken to aid in carrying the snow away. This revolving section may be actuated by the wheel N, pinion O, and hand-wheel P. Doors or valves Q with gear R S, or any equivalent thereof, will be arranged with the scraperplates to close the holes B in case it is not required to discharge the snow bythe air-blasts-- for instance, when it can be easily thrown over the descending sides of the road-bed.

The air-discharge apparatus is more particularly for use in very deep snows, and when the roadway is sunk below the surface of the earth.

The discharge-pipe has a joint, T, by which the upper part can swing down back upon the platform when required; it may also havea flexible joint at U, by which it may be placed sidewise either way over the bank if required, for discharging the snow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Themeans for removing snow from railroad tracks, consisting of a plow having holes B, suction-tubes O, blowers D, and dischargepipe F, arranged with respect to each other, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The means for shifting the pipe E according to the height of banks on side of road, consisting of section I, rack and pinion K L, and hand-wheel J, arranged substantially as set forth.

SAMUEL W. HEMENWAY.

Witnesses A. P. THAYER, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

